TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE: International academics decry delay in reappointment of Sir Hilary as UWI vice-chancellor
/ Our Today
administrator146 educators write to UWI chancellor questioning hold up
Almost 150 members of the international academic community have written to Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Robert Bermudez declaring a travesty of justice the delay in the reappointment of Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, as its vice-chancellor.
The educators have questioned the UWI Council’s failure to make a decision on the reappointment of Sir Hilary, despite what they consider his stellar service.
In their letter, dated March 23, the international academics extolled the scholarly and administrative achievements of Sir Hilary.
In justifying the need to reappoint Sir Hilary, the academics pointed out that he is “an eminent historian and thought leader who is internationally recognised and respected, for his tireless efforts to make The UWI rank amongst the world’s best research universities”.
They observed that, ”the UWI is now ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education’s Golden Age University Rankings,” which has been attained under his stewardship.
Contents of letter to Chancellor Bermudez
In their letter to the Chancellor, the academics write: “We, 146 concerned members of the international academic community, write in solidarity with our UWI colleagues, who have expressed concern over troubling aspects of the Report of The UWI Chancellor’s Commission on Governance at The University of the West Indies (July 2020), as well as over the failure of the UWI Council to date, to make a decision on the reappointment of the current vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, despite his stellar service.”
In the letter, they pointed to a correspondence to Bermudez from the heads of departments in the Regional Headquarters of the UWI, suggesting that this delay in the decision on the vice-chancellor’s contract might be considered a travesty of justice.
“We have also seen the various articles in Caribbean newspapers and read the Governance Report and because some of us are alumni and affiliates, who have the interests of The UWI and the vice-chancellor at heart, we are also alarmed by some of the recommendations contained in the report, which we will outline later,” the academics wrote.
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